WRC Comments on Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Funds Action Plan
The Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development (DEHCD) of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development has developed a draft action plan that describes the proposed use of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds made available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
These funds were allocated to Vermont in response to needs arising from the impacts of Tropical Storm Irene, and the Spring 2011 lake and river flood events. The Windham Regional Commission has submitted the following comments on the draft action plan. These comments were reviewed by the WRC Community Development Committee. The DEHCD draft action plan, frequently asked questions sheet, and public hearing agenda are also provided for reference.
Addenda: DEHCD Request to HUD for $4.5 million for Windham County; Letter of support from Congressional delegation
DEHCD drafted the request letter below in response to HUD's concern that granting the state's request to use a portion of the funds targeted to Washington and Windsor counties for Windham County would jeopardize its ability to address the unmet needs in the targeted areas. Also below is the letter of support signed by Vermont’s Congressional delegation.
Update: Good News!
On Thursday, July 19th we learned from Jen Hollar, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development (DEHCD), that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved the state’s request that up to $4.5 million in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds be made available to Windham County out of the $17,328,169 that had been targeted exclusively to Washington and Windsor Counties. DEHCD will update the Action Plan on July 20th. Once the revised Action Plan is released we’ll have a better idea about the appropriate role the WRC should play in support of our towns. The letter from HUD, the revised Action Plan from DEHCD, and a summary of direct grant and competitive grant funding available to Windham County are below.
Many thanks to Deputy Commissioner Hollar, DEHCD, our Congressional delegation, and everyone else who pursued the need for additional funding for Windham County through the CDBG-DR allocation.
